The J-class trams were built as replacements for the King Street to Ocean Street, Edgecliff cable line designed to provide a frequent schedule, but with a lower seating capacity.

Some briefly operated on the Manly lines in 1911.

Withdrawals commenced in 1934 with the entry of the R Class trams, with all out of service by 1936.

[1] One example has been preserved: Media related to Sydney J-Class Tram at Wikimedia Commons